Canandaigua city, town work to save money

An exploratory group is looking for more ways the two municipalities can share services.

By Mike Murphy murphy@messengerpostmedia.com

CANANDAIGUA — The town and city have a long history of working together, according to Town Manager Doug Finch.

Soon, the two municipalities will be having a broader discussion on ways they can work together to increase efficiencies and save money.

“It is time to have a more in-depth talk on how we can capitalize on each other’s strengths,” Finch said.

Mayor Ellen Polimeni and Town Supervisor Greg Westbrook are announcing the formation of a joint exploratory group to identify opportunities for shared services between the two municipalities. The nine-member group will evaluate the functions of both the city and town operations over the next several months.

Similar to the discussions Ontario County government is having when it comes to collaborating with municipalities, this group also will be looking at identifying sources of revenue, decreasing costs, assuring positive resident experiences, reliability of services, efficiency and limiting risks.

“Our objective is to identify short-term things we can specifically achieve in 2018,” Finch said.

One possible idea floated: One fee for town and city residents for use of Kershaw Park in the city and Onanda Park in the town.

Among the longer term goals is having the city and town upgrade and use the same accounting software. Not only would that save money, but it also would enable government employees to serve as backups for each other, Finch said.

While some sharing is done now, perhaps even bigger and better things can be done collaboratively with the transfer facility and solid waste management, Finch suggested.

“Working collaboratively, I am confident we have the ability to tap into each other’s strengths and position our community for even better things to come,” Westbrook said in a prepared statement.

The group — which includes Polimeni, Westbrook, City Manager John Goodwin, city residents Jim Mueller and Laura Kenyan, Finch, town residents John Casey and Vince Yacuzzo, and Kevin Olvany from the Canandaigua Lake Watershed — begins meeting this month.

The public also will have an opportunity to share ideas, at two public informational meetings later this month and in August.

“While the city and town have a long history of sharing resources, services, programs and equipment, opportunities exist that might enable the two municipalities to work more closely with each other,” Polimeni said in a prepared statement.

If you go

WHAT Public informational meetings on ways the town and city of Canandaigua governments can share services

WHEN 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 24, at Town Hall, 5440 Routes 5 and 20 West; and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Hurley Building, 205 Saltonstall St., in the city

DETAILS Ideas, comments or suggestions can be directed to Town Manager Doug Finch at 585-394-1120, ext. 2234, or DFinch@townofcanandaigua.org; or City Manager John Goodwin at 585-396-5000, ext. 5010, or John.Goodwin@canandaiguanewyork.gov.